Treatments for Hemorrhoids
Depending on the severity of your hemorrhoids, there are many different ways of treating them. If your hemorrhoids are minimal and cause only a small amount of discomfort and itching, there are many creams and ointments available for temporarily relieving those types of symptoms. However, these remedies should only be used for a week or less; if you find that you are relying on topical ointments to control symptoms that are not going away, additional treatment may be in order.
If a blood clot has formed on a hemorrhoid you have, your doctor might opt to remove it with a minor incision. This can provide quick relief of the problem. Otherwise, there are a few other types of procedures that can correct slightly advanced cases of hemorrhoids.
If a blood clot has formed on a hemorrhoid you have, your doctor might opt to remove it with a minor incision. This can provide quick relief of the problem. Otherwise, there are a few other types of procedures that can correct slightly advanced cases of hemorrhoids.
Rubber Band Ligation Treatments for Hemorrhoids
With advanced types of internal hemorrhoids, your doctor may place a rubber band around the base of one. After a while, as the blood circulation is cut off, the hemorrhoid will shrink away and disappear. Although it may cause discomfort and bleeding, this procedure is very effective and quite a common treatment for hemorrhoids. Laser, Infrared or Bipolar Coagulation
In these types of hemorrhoid treatments, a laser or an infrared light is used to heat up small, internal hemorrhoids. As they heat up, they become hard and shrivel away. If you have internal hemorrhoids that bleed frequently, you may opt for this procedure. However, recurrence is more common with this technique than with rubber band ligation.
Injection Treatment for Hemorrhoids
Injection treatments, or sclerotherapy for hemorrhoids is performed by having small doses of certain chemical solutions injected into hemorrhoidal tissues. The hemorrhoids then shrink away and disappear. Many people find this to be an effective course of action for treating hemorrhoids, although rubber band treatments are still considered to be the most effective.
People who continue experiencing frequent occurrences of hemorrhoids despite the above treatments, or who experience extremely large hemorrhoids, may need to undergo one of the following types of surgical procedures.
Hemorrhoidectomy
With this procedure, essentially your doctor removes as much excess tissue as possible from the rectal area that causes frequent bleeding in hemorrhoids. While undergoing the procedure, your doctor may put you under local anesthetic with sedation, a form of spinal anesthetic or a type of general anesthetic. This is one of the most effective and permanent ways of ending hemorrhoids in someone who experiences them frequently. However, the recovery can be difficult and may result in a great deal of pain for an extended period of time. Therefore, this procedure is only prescribed in extreme or advanced cases. Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy
This is another common surgical procedure used for treating advanced or extreme cases of hemorrhoids. Staples are used to block the blood flow to the body's hemorrhoidal tissue. While this procedure is much less painful than a regular hemorrhoidectomy, it is also likelier to result in recurrences and may even cause a rectal prolapse, where the rectum protrudes from the anusAs outlined above, the treatments for hemorrhoids can range from the minimally invasive to the surgical. The type of treatment depends on the severity of the hemorrhoids and how often they occur. You should consult with your doctor to determine the course of action that is right for you.
